SUMTER COUNTY EAGLES

YORK | After finishing 6-5 overall and 4-2 in region play last year, head coach Bob Taylor plans for Sumter Academy to make it past the first round of AISA state playoffs in the 2008 football season.

Sumter Academy lost 27-20 to Autauga Academy in the first round of the playoffs last year.'Our goal this year is the same as every year, and that is to make it to Troy for the state championship,' Taylor said.Going into the 2008 season, the Eagles have lost nine seniors, including starting quarterback Mark Geiger. Geiger suffered from a knee injury midway through the 2007 season.'After Mark got hurt things had to be changed around a little to go with the skills of our back up quarterback,' said Taylor.'It was like having a fruit basket turned over in the middle of the season, but our replacement stepped up and performed well.'Senior Tanner Armstrong, who was the starting running back for the Eagles last year, will now be the starting quarterback going into the 2008 season.'I am expecting a lot out of Tanner. He is a great leader,' Taylor said.Paul Reed, a freshman, is backup quarterback.Depth continues to be a problem for the Eagles. With a 21-man roster, Sumter Academy will have to avoid key injuries.'We are few in numbers, so in our summer workouts we focused on getting stronger and being in great condition,' Taylor said.Taylor said that a lot of the younger players are going to have to step up and produce on the field.Junior Court Hendricks will be starting at running back along with senior Brian McCarty. Taylor said that both Hendricks and McCarty will be keys for the Eagles' offense. Sophomore Casewell Compton will get into the mix at the quarterback position and sophomore Preston Weekley will receive playing time at running back.The Eagles will be returning six starters on offense and five on defense.Senior Ryan Guin will be at tight end, the same duties he had last year. Senior Sutton Smitherman will be starting at offensive guard.'Both Ryan and Sutton have been around the program and know what is expected. They have showed great leadership in the early part of the year,' said Taylor.'Ryan had 69 tackles for the 2007 year playing defensive end, and Sutton is just an all-around good ball player.'

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